Make Believe: The World of Glen Keane

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Date

Mar 8–Sep 3, 2018

Cost

FREE with admission

Location

Theater Gallery

Open to members only: Wed, Mar 7, 2018

The Walt Disney Family Museum is proud to introduce our newest original exhibition, Make Believe: The World of Glen Keane, showcasing the work of this influential Disney animator and artist. Keane’s dynamic artistic talent brings to life some of the most unforgettable characters of our time, from the imposing Beast and fearless Tarzan, to the daring heroines Ariel, Pocahontas, and Rapunzel. The exhibition, curated by Glen Keane in partnership with Michael Labrie, the museum’s Director of Collections and Exhibitions, opens on March 8, 2018 in the museum’s Theater Gallery and will be on view through September 3, 2018.

This unique exhibition showcases hand-drawn animation and maquettes of Keane’s most iconic Disney characters, from earlier films, including The Fox and the Hound (1981), to more recent works, such as Tangled (2010). Keane’s methodical approach to his work, honed during a 40-year-career that has witnessed profound technological changes in the field of animation, led to a period now recognized as the Disney animation renaissance. Make Believe features images and animation sketches from numerous films, including The Little Mermaid (1989), Beauty and the Beast (1991), Aladdin (1992), Pocahontas (1995), and Tarzan (1999).

Keane left the Studios in 2012 to pursue new opportunities and shortly after joined Google Spotlight Stories to create a mobile 360 short film with hand-drawn animation. The partnership with Google led to a collaboration with Tilt Brush, an innovative VR drawing tool. Keane first witnessed the technology and its astounding capabilities at a visual effects conference in San Francisco while the app was in its early development stages.

Tilt Brush allows you to paint in virtual reality from an entirely different perspective: the room is the canvas and the wand-like controller turns traces of light into three-dimensional drawings. With this technology, Keane is no longer restricted to a piece of paper—he can step in and around his characters, and experience their depth and scale in new, exciting ways.

In partnership with Google, The Walt Disney Family Museum is also excited to feature a 3D-printed rendering of Keane’s creation Victory Dance. This sculpture will be the first in a series of Tilt Brush artworks showcased throughout the year in conjunction with Make Believe, and the museum’s upcoming special exhibition, Walt Disney’s Nine Old Men: Masters of Animation, opening May 17, 2018.

Of special interest, also on view in this exhibition are Keane’s personal works, many of which emerged from dynamic partnerships. Visitors can get a rare glimpse into Keane’s collaboration with the Paris Opéra (Nephtali), his embracing of innovation and technology with Google on Duet, and his recent 2017 collaboration with Kobe Bryant and legendary composer John Williams on Dear Basketball.